Sex Sells

Forget gold chains and dirty raincoats. The leaders of companies that capitalize on the business of sex are, for better or worse, businesspeople like all others. Despite stigma and cultural assumptions about the industry, some leaders on our list also produce Broadway shows, own sports teams, or donate millions to family planning. From the producers of adult videos to dating sites like Ashley Madison, from Viagra to Victoria's Secret, the "sex" business incorporates a range of companies, many of which are publicly traded. (None of the companies cited here engage in illegal activities.)